Page 80 of The Music of Us
What had I said? Had it been super embarrassing?
Oh, God, I hadn’t talked about having a crush on him, had I?
I tried to recall our conversation, but the memory stayed hazy, like I was searching for lights through the fog.
The one thing I did remember was that Jake looked upset.
The thought made me feel sick all over again.
Leon stopped chewing his—ormy—toast long enough to ask, “What’s the matter?”
“I think I might’ve said things I shouldn’t have, and maybe hurt Jake,” I told him. “I never meant to do that.”
Leon studied me. “You like him, don’t you?”
“You’re getting crumbs on the carpet,” I said, ignoring his comment and shoving a napkin at him.
Apparently, that was enough of an answer for Leon, who grinned knowingly. “Oh, yousolike him.”
“That’s not the point.”
“It really kind of is.”
“I doubt Jake likes me, anyway,” I sighed. Leon’s phone went off, and he glanced down at a text. “Especially not after my verbal emotional vomit, whatever it was.”
“Are you sure about that?” Leon asked, holding up his phone as I took another forkful of eggs. “Because Jake just texted thatyour mom finished up at the bank and stopped by The Tiny Tiger, and he told her he was fine to keep running the café so she could come home and talk to you.”
“What?” I nearly spat out my eggs. “I was almost on my way over there!”
“No, you weren’t, actually, because Jake told your mom how you weren’t feeling good and she’s not super happy about it.”
“Hmph.” I stabbed another forkful of what were admittedly fluffy and well-scrambled eggs. Was that a hint of pepper? “That snitch.”
“Yeah! He’s a killjoy,” Leon agreed, looking enthusiastic that someone else finally saw the truth about Jake. “Like, did you know he’s always the one to drag me out of bed when I’m late? Jake puts the coffee cup riiiiight out of reach so I have no choice but to get out of bed to get it. He thinks it’s hilarious.”
“Insufferable.” Oh, the butter had melted down nicely into the toast. Delicious. No wonder Leon wanted to steal it.
“Exactly,” Leon said, as another text came through on his phone. “And now he wants me back at the café.”
“To rehearse?”
“To sweep. Apparently, there’s been a kibble incident and Aspen cannot be trusted with a broom. And Phillip claims he’s never seen one before as they—quote—don’t have them in Britain. Personally, I think the plonker’s lying for fun again.”
“A kibble incident?” Quickly, I set down my plate and threw the blanket off my lap. “Wha—”
“Lucy, it’s fine,” Leon said, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. “Jeez, relax. I got it handled. You don’t have to keep the café running all by yourself.”
“He’s right, you know.”
Surprised, I turned around to see Mom standing in our front doorway.
She gave me a small, sad smile. “It’s not all on you, Lucy.”
“That’s what I keep telling her, Ms. Melrose,” Leon said cheerfully, walking over to hold the door open to make it easier for her to walk inside, before he stepped outside himself. “See you guys later, I’m off tosweep.”
He threw me a salute before shutting the door with a snap.
Mom turned to look back at me. “How are you doing?”
